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Orbiting Explorer Departs for Mars
After a successful liftoff aboard NASA's first Atlas V rocket, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) began its journey to Mars. The MRO's 'cruise phase' to the planet takes 7 months, followed by 6 months spent refining its orbit using a technique known as 'aerobraking'. During the initial cruise phase, controllers test the satellite's instruments and begin preparations to slow it using the atmosphere of Mars.